Fiji appoints new vice-president

Fiji's interim Indigenous Affairs Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has been sworn in as the first vice-president since the 2006 coup and President Ratu Josefa Iloilo has signed a decree to re-establish the nation's courts and judiciary.

Ratu Epeli is a former commander of Fiji's military forces and was a long-serving member of the country's parliament.

Fiji's last vice-president, Ratu Jona Madraiwiwi, resigned after the military takeover and the office has been vacant until now.

The Fiji Times reports the Administration of Justice Decree 2009 is the ninth decree to be signed by the President since he scrapped the constitution a week ago.

He sacked the judiciary and reappointed Commodore Frank Bainimarama and his cabinet for five more years in government.

The new decree allows for a Supreme Court, a Court of Appeal, High Court and other courts if deemed necessary.

The decree allows Ratu Josefa to appoint several judicial officers, including judges of the three senior courts, a master of the High Court, a chief magistrate and resident magistrates.

The decree bars any of the appointed judges from hearing "any challenges against the decree which Ratu Iloilo put in place to abolish the 1997 constitution".